Do you have a pair of unsalvageable jeans lying around? Before you throw them away, check out Denim Therapy‘s jeans repair service first. Then, if those beloved old jeans are truly a lost cause, consider repurposing your jeans via this snazzy DIY craft: make your own denim bookmarks. Think of it as a page corner cozy. Or not. It’s your call. This tutorial shows you how to make heart-shaped denim bookmarks—a cool last-minute Valentine’s Day gift—to display your enduring love for your former jeans.

Denim workshirts are the all-purpose instant dash of cool in your closet, and there’s no better time to wear them than fall. But if you’re looking to put a twist on an already awesome classic, try this quick DIY cut-out project.

Trace out style lines (whether you want to cut out a huge chunk as shown, or smaller slices) in chalk or by thread-basting, on your denim workshirt. Then, get a nice sharp pair of fabric scissors (we love Gingher), and slowly cut along your lines, removing the denim from your workspace.

Here at Denim Therapy, we are all about DIY. That’s why, even though we offer a jeans-to-shorts service, we want to show you how to make your own jean shorts. Watch as Renee shows us the step-by-step process, from selecting the perfect denim to how to measure the length. But remember, if you’re not crafty, all you have to do is measure the jeans to your preferred length, fill out the online form, and send them to us at Denim Therapy. We’ll turn your jeans into the perfect summer shorts. It’s a win-win!

Feel that insane heat and blinding sunshine? Summer’s on the way, and we’re counting down the reasons we’re excited to bust out our favorite warm weather denim for a season of super-stylish fun in the sun.

1. No other season permits this spectrum of neons, tie-dyes, and brightly colored jeans be set free from your closet and paraded down the boardwalk. Don’t hold back on your favorite colors, whether you favor pastels or saturated electric hues.

2. What’s scandalous in the spring is common practice in the summer. It’s the only season where your cut-off shorts can resemble a bikini bottom in shortness and no one will think twice about it.

3. DIY! Cutting, slashing, distressing, dip-dying and applique are just a few of the ways you can take a pair of jeans you loved all winter and turn them into a summer dream. Need some ideas? Try this DIY.

4. The simple perfection of the basic jeans and a t-shirt combo is amplified in the summer, and while we love fall layering, this no-fail formula that dates back to denim’s pop culture debut is still a staple in looking fresh and “classic cool”.

Rawr Denim is running a pretty epic series teaching denim heads like you how to craft your own pair of raw denim jeans, penned by Christopher J. Brown of Brown, Deim. This is no small feat as you can imagine, but what an amazing summer project to attempt! If you want to learn how to make your own raw denim, read on.

“To produce your own pair of raw denim is a very exciting experience because it stokes creativity on several fronts. Even within the micro-niche world of fine raw denim it’s great fun to see classic ideas experimented with and new styles develop. In doing so, it allows raw denim to move forward with better design.

Your desire to create your own pair of raw jeans originates with creativity. Specifically, the creativity to produce your very own fresh jeans with either a different fit, design, fabrique, or other qualities.”

Studs, fringe, ombre, stars & stripes… list these elements in a row and you might imagine the ultimate overkill, but Kill City Jeans has mastered the art of quintessential rock’n'roll. Their denim, 80% of which is manufactured domestically, is shredded, studded, dyed, and treated to appeal to your inner badass. Both sexes are treated to plenty of color and texture (with the colors desaturated and the texture well-played), and more basic washes for days where you don’t feel like dressing for a music video.

The men’s line comes in three basic fits and features wax coats, reverse mineral wash, and distressed yarn-dyed styles. The women’s line is a bit more playful, including (our favorite) purple ombre cut-off shorts, ready to be DIY’d (they even come with a bag of studs). Best sellers like the navajo print and stars & stripes jeans continue to lead the collection, but this is a good place to start if you’re looking to expand way beyond the generic blue jean for spring this year.

We love handmade gifts (a few of us are even devout DIY-ers here at DT), so when we decided to put together a gift guide this year, we thought, why make one of them a round-up of cool and crafty denim items! This way you support an independent artist/designer by purchasing, or get some ideas to make your own. Check out our picks from Etsy below.

Welcome to your morning dose of denim news, links, sales, and everything else we couldn’t help but share. Check out what’s happening (and totally not happening) in the world of denim now. Got a tip you think we should include, a sale you want to share, or a style you just saw and can’t live without? Email us!

Feeling creative? We’re going to show you one way to take a boring old pair of shorts and turn them into a super-happening pair of strategically bleached-out cut-offs! If you’re looking for a professional bleach job or dye job done by the pros, Denim Therapy offers incredible bleach/dye services that will turn your jeans into a dream. But if you want to experiment and have some fun, read on and we’ll guide you through one of the many ways you can modify your denim!

We started out with a pair of bright blue shorts (with a bit of stretch) that hit just below the knee. We decided to give these run-of-the-mill bottoms a new life by turning them into a multi-color, semi-destroyed pair of cut-offs.

Step 1. Cut them to your preferred length. There are no definite measurements for this—it’s up to you if you want to show a bit of your behind or if you want to be more modest. Always try them on, and then mark them. Remember the fabric will rise up about 1/2″ once cut, depending on the fiber content. Cut them longer if you plan to cuff them up.

Step 2. Do a bit of destroying. You can always continue after you have finished bleaching them. Use a scissor, razor, or any rough/sharp edge. Separate fibers at the hem and slits you make in the denim (patience is a virtue). You will see an increase in fringe and loose threads after you wash them, so don’t worry if they look too clean cut at the beginning.

Step 3. Set up a bleaching station. You will need bleach, a bin of water and bleach (our ratio was 2/3 bleach, 1/3 water—but you’ll have to experiment to find your ideal mixture according to your denim’s wash, texture, and fiber content), protective gloves, and a toothbrush.

Be sure you’re doing this in a well-ventilated area, such as nearby an open window.

Step 4. Apply bleach with toothbrush. Flick, spray, splatter, and otherwise distribute the bleach how ever you please. We brushed ours downward from the seamline of the waistband, and then flicked some bleach at random on the fabric.

Step 5. Wait and watch! If the denim isn’t quite bleaching, add more.

Step 6. Repeat step 5 until you’re happy with your bleach-out! At this point, we added a towel to keep the bleach from hitting the wood base the denim was laying on.

Step 7. Once the front is dry, you can rinse and dry, or flip them over and do the same thing (quickly, because you don’t want the bleach to sit in the denim too long). By now you’ll have a good idea of how much bleach to use and how long to leave it.

We also added faux-pockets with bleach to our shorts, because the welt pockets weren’t doing it for us.

Step 8. Rinse thoroughly in hot water (don’t worry if some of the dye runs out of the shorts. It’s probably going to happen—just make sure there are no dishes in your sink). Hang them or lay them to dry somewhere with plenty of ventilation. Once they’re dry, you’re done!

In one afternoon, you can have brand new shorts to flaunt. Be sure to take them out this weekend, and make your friend jealous. If they ask where you got ‘em, tell them about your friends at Denim Therapy. *wink wink*

You know the saying—everything tastes better when it’s free. But did you know it feels better when you wear it too? Yeah, you did. We’ve rounded up four chances for you to get your jeans-obsessed hands on some free denim this month, but you’ve got no time to lose! Jump on these deals while they’re fresh!

1. Reuse Jeans, who make their threads from 80% recycled materials, are giving away a pair every day in the month of April through Cosmopolitan magazine. Check out their sweepstakes page to learn more.

2. Paige Premium Denim salutes their “Fan of the Month” each month by featuring them on their facebook page and sending them a free pair of jeans. To enter, just take a photo of yourself wearing Paige and email it to facebook@paigeusa.com

3. If you don’t make the Paige fan of the month cut, no worries. They’re giving you another chance to win the goods via Denim Blog. A quick click of the follow button on two twitter accounts, a RT, and you’re in the running.

4. Indicustom allows you to design your own pair of jeans, and doing so gives you a chance to win the pair you designed. Even if you don’t win, you’ll have a blast choosing your ideal design details. Show ‘em what you’ve got!

Good luck, and stay tuned… we’re giving away an amazing pair of jeans next week, and you don’t want to miss out!